UK Landscape Case Studies

For the AQA GCSE exam, you need to be able to apply your knowledge of coastal, river, and glacial processes and landforms to real UK examples. This lesson brings together the key case studies you should know, with specific facts, figures, and details that will strengthen your exam answers.

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Coastal Case Study: The Dorset Coast (Jurassic Coast)

The Dorset coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated in 2001 as the "Jurassic Coast") stretching approximately 155 km from Exmouth in Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset. It exposes rocks dating from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods (250-65 million years ago).

Why is the Dorset coast so important for studying coastal landforms?

The coastline is made up of alternating bands of hard and soft rock, creating a variety of landforms that illustrate almost every coastal process and feature.

Key Landforms on the Dorset Coast